Bali will intensively promoted as surfing haven

Bali provincial administration will intensively promote the island as a surfing and water sports haven. It is already well-known to have huge potential as a spiritual holiday destination.

A beautiful wave in paradise. Photo: iBorba/IndoSurfLife.com

Tjok Bagus Pemayun, head of the promotional department at the Bali Tourism office, told that surfing, diving and snorkeling were favored water sports for domestic and international visitors.

Almost every day, Bali hosted surfing championships and other water sports activities, Pemayun said.

“Water sports and community and village-based tourism have yet to be explored and promoted extensively,” Pemayun added.

Both sectors will likely draw quality tourists who really want to spend their vacation in Bali.

Surfing and other water sports will attract professional athletes across the globe, which, in fact, will have a positive impact on Bali.

“It also has the potential to self-generate promotional efforts, as they—the athletes—will share their experiences in Bali,” Pemayun said.

The annual Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang Beach. One of the most attractive surf contests in Bali. Photo: iBorba/IndoSurfLife.com

He admitted that the Bali administration had yet to establish a joint cooperation with the private sector in organizing a government-sponsored surfing championship.

“We have not yet included the current surfing championships in our official calendar of events in the promotional book,” he admitted.

The local authorities seemed to have ignored the fact that many companies and organizations, have been organizing monthly to annual surfing championships on the island’s best beaches — Kuta, Canggu, Dreamland, Medewi and Padang-Padang.

Indonesia’s best professional surfers enjoying perfect waves at Keramas Beach.

Piping Irawan, a surfer and sports event organizer from the Magic Wave Magazine, admitted that the local administration had not yet become involved in any sports activity—especially surfing.

“Bali has turned into a surf Mecca for world and professional surfers,” Irawan said, adding that thousands of surfers came to Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara, as well as other beaches in Java and Sumatra.

The robust surfing and water sports activities have also created job opportunities for local people, as well as boosting creative industries.

Tjok Bagus Pemayun (left) and Piping Irawan (right). Photo: Timo Pramulya/Magic Wave

There are several surf schools attracting hundreds of beginners—young and old.

“Surfing and water sports have encouraged creative industries to grow well, including fashion, surf boards and accessories,” he said.

Bali, he said, already had a solid surfing community. “They have conducted positive activities, including the Beach Clean Up and other environmental programs.”

Bali’s future surfers at the 2nd Magic Wave Billabong Surf Series, Halfway Kuta Beach.

Read the full story, here.

Source: The Jakarta Post